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How not to work out your own Salvation 0

March 24, 2019 Alex Oluwasakin

We have looked at what it means to “work out your own salvation” by trying to answer the question, “How are you working out your salvation?” Following that, we looked at the means provided for working out “your own salvation” by answering the question, “What are the means of working out your own salvation?”

In this piece, we shall continue our discussion by looking at “How not to work out your own salvation”

We are still in the Epistle to the Philippians. This time we shall have as our anchor,

Phil 2:14: “Do all things without murmurings and disputings”

Do all things: Do ALL things. Nothing exempted. Whatever the believers choose to do (for there is the choice also of not to do). Believers in Christ are to do things. They are not to be idle or be busybodies. Rather, they are to do whatever it is that is in conformity with the will and purpose of God.

Without, that is, not with. Something that should be absent, that should not be there. That is, murmurings and disputings should not be part of whatever you or any believer does or will be doing.

Believers in Christ are commanded to do all things they do without murmurings and disputings.

It this is obeyed by all, the Christian environment will necessary be an environment where work is enjoyable!

What is murmuring? What are disputings?

Murmuring is grumbling. Complaining, to express discontent. It is a manifestation of a disaffected spirit.

Where God is the object that murmuring is direct at, then a spirit of unbelief that charges God with error, wickedness, injustice and other things that are contrary to the nature and character of God is usually at work. It berates God as if He is no more God.

When it is directed at humans, there may be an underling envy masquerading as a legitimate concern for some perceived wrong done by the object of the murmuring.

Disputings are arguments. It is being argumentative for no reason or out of selfish interests for the purpose of self-righteousness. It is having or being involved in open brawls and quarrels.

When disputings are directed against God, it is often a manifestation of a critical spirit with the underling attitude or sense of entitlement. It is a spirit that says to God, “You own me. You are under obligation to do what I demand or desire.” Such a one will often go into dispute with God brandishing a long list of credentials that makes him entitle to God serving him.

A case in point is the Pharisee who prayed with himself:

“¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ¹²I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” (Luke 18:11-12).

You get the drift.

Examples amongst men

An example of this is what happened between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot, (Gen 13:7-8); Also, Paul and Barnabas had what appears to be an open disputing or quarrel over John Mark (Acts 15:37-40). To these you may add many more from personal experience too.

Yes, disputings are oftentimes the manifestation of a critical spirit, which in turn is a consequence of pride. As we are informed,

“Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom” (Pr. 13:10).

Thus, in this passage, believers in Christ are being exhorted against the ungodly behaviour of murmurings and disputing in whatever they do.

We thus see that this ungodly behaviour can be against God or, and against man. And it recognises no status as it can infest anyone.

Though people do murmur against God, believers in Christ are not to murmur against God (Num. 11:1).

Experience of Israel not to be emulated by believers in Christ

The Israelites especially during their journey through the wilderness were known for their recurrent murmurings and disputings against God. These were established habits towards both their leaders, Moses and Aaron, and against God.

Hence, they complained in the time of scarcity by their Impatience. They showed their impatience by their speeches:

“What does God mean to kill us with famine?”
“What sins have we committed to deserve this type of treatment?”
“God should either solve this problem or take us away!”

Or they showed discontent for brief periods of scarcity or unpleasant but temporary situations by causing rebellion and strife within the assembly. They often thereby tried to procure a remedy by a means worse than their initial murmuring.

Their behaviour and the consequences of their actions make for an unpleasant, though very instructive reading. These are as summarized in the NT (1Cor 10:1-33), so they will not be emulated by New Testament believers.

Murmurings and disputings are not a constructive or peaceable way of seeking to redress an unpleasant situation or circumstance. They engender strive, hostility and only stir up more ungodly emotions that do not accomplish the righteousness of God. Rather, they make the people of God to unwittingly ally with or play into the hand of the devil and his cohorts.

Observe that, people don’t complain when there is plenty, when everything is working fine, or things are as they expect. So, watch or observe yourself and people intently when things are not meeting your and or others’ expectations, for that is when you and they are vulnerable to murmurings and disputings too.

Impatience is a vice. But patience is a virtue, a fruit of the Holy Spirit(Gal 5:22-23).

So, cultivate patience. Run away from impatience. You know it that people murmur against other people. But believers are not to murmur against their fellow believers, and indeed against anybody.

Some of the reasons for which these murmurings come include:

Bearing a grudge against someone because of his spiritual growth/maturity,
Bearing a grudge against someone because of he is preferred in a certain situation/position/assignment,
Bearing a grudge against someone because of his popularity,
Bearing a grudge against someone because of his wealth.

Further, such grudge is not limited to words only, but manifests in actions calculated to discredit and ultimately cause the downfall of the object of their envy.

Murmurings and disputings are behaviour that can be unlearned.

Remember how the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Jewish religious and political leadership, and large portion of the Jewish population continuously opposed the Lord Jesus Christ till they eventually crucified Him on manufactured false charges.

Their actions were deliberate and well planned as we are told,

“Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.” (Mat 22:15).

Thus, their motive was not to acquire more knowledge of God or get to know Jesus Christ more intimately. Their motive was not about keeping the law of Moses pure and uncorrupted.

Rather, out of envy and unbelief, they were out to incriminate the Lord Jesus Christ, and all their efforts and pretentions were tailored towards that goal. They neither believed what the Lord taught, nor did they desire to know the truth so they can obey it.

Many continue to this day to behave towards God the way the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders behaved towards the Lord. They want to and try to trap God in His Word. There are bible-promise hunters. They do not obey what they already know from the word of God, neither do they try to get to know the truth so they can obey.

Rather, all their efforts and actions are similar to one who shakes the bible in God’s face and says with venom, “You say so and so in Your word, now do it for me or you are not God!”

Similarly, within the Christian assembly of the early church:

Grecians murmured against the apostles (Acts 6:1).
(Acts 15:37-40). Even Barnabas and Paul had a serious dispute at a point in their missionary activities together

What these examples show is that this is a very common habit and a fault among people, and believers are not exempt.

It is especially bad when believers who are children of God, and therefore, expected to know better engage in it. It does not seem to matter whether such a one is considered superior, an equal, and an inferior person to them, they just have to murmur and engage in all sorts of disputings!

This should not be amongst believers. What makes this terrible habit of murmuring worse is that even when there is reason to complain, rather than a friendly discussion where ideas are exchanged and issues are properly looked into, things become a heart issue with much rankling and backbiting.

Please, rather than absolving yourself off-hand, search yourself intently to see where you are.

But where do murmurings and disputings come from?

Their origin may surprise you, but it shouldn’t for we see it in others every day. Only we hardly look at ourselves to see if we operate from this ungodly base that we see others operating from.

One often hears others say, “they”, “He” or “She” when referring to these things in others, but never, “I”

Whoever is speaking therefore absolves himself from such ungodly behaviour. This is self-deceit or self-delusion. We should even be more critical in examining ourselves than when we examine others. Especially, as we are to first remove the beam in our own eyes so we can see the mote in our brother’s eye (Mat 7:3-5). But the word of God is inclusive of all, i.e. you, me, and all other believers in Christ.

According to the book of James:

“¹ From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? ² Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. ³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. ⁴ Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (Jam 4:1-4).

There it is: The love and friendship with the world are at the foundation of the wars believers engage in with God and with fellow believers.

Just agree with the word of God. Then examine yourself and begin to deal with your love and friendship with the world, no matter how cleverly it is disguising itself.

What others are their companions?

Like many other bad things that people like to do or associate with, murmuring and disputings usually do not occur in isolation. Like many bad habits, they are not loners, but like and enjoy the company of their kind. Yes, they move in company of other bad, ungodly habits.

Let us hear the word of God:

“idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies.” (Gal 5:20).

But I encourage you to see all of Gal 5:19-21:

“¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰ idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹ envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

“For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.” (2Cor 12:20).

Murmuring and disputings are part of the works of flesh. They do not walk alone but in the company of other works of the flesh. Flesh hear means the sinful nature.

Believers are supposed to have had their sinful nature crucified with Christ and should no longer live in sin (Rom 6:6; Gal 2:20). Neither should sin have dominion over them (the believers) any longer (Rom 6:14).

God wants to be the all-in-all in your life. He does not want and does not accept any competitors.

The world is a master and tends to dominate those who belong to it. Similarly, the devil, of whom the world is a very strong and loyal ally. Because of the love for the world, people desire to have things of the world through the means of the world.

They do this, all the time wanting to remain with, and be considered to be children of God. But you cannot have one leg or hand in the world and have one leg or hand in the things of God.

The two camps are mutually exclusive. You are either in one or the other not both. For you cannot serve God and mammon at the same time (Mat 6:24). Mammon is a most visible and attractive representative of the flesh, the world, and of the devil. It is a big snare by which the three working in an unholy alliance draw their would-be victims from God, and into ruin.

Hence, the root from which this murmuring and disputing sprout from is an evil and jealous mind. This is what makes murmuring and disputing so repugnant to God, and even other human beings. And this was why God visited the people who engaged in them with severe judgement.

This is also why conscientious believers dislike and make effort not to associate with these people with sectarian and disruptive spirit. It is therefore mandatory for the believer to make every effort to weed this out. And go further, to cultivate a habit of open, candid discussion, with a generous heart with other believers.

The counsel of God to believers:

“⁸ Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. ⁹ Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; And discover not a secret to another: ¹⁰ Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thine infamy turn not away.” (Pr. 25:8-10);

“¹⁴ The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. ¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, Even they both are abomination to the Lord.” (Pr. 17:14-15);

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1John 2:15).

Do remember that many unrighteous desires, and ungodly and self-seeking goals and agendas are often disguised in the attire of fighting for righteousness, or for God.

But,

“the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (Jam 1:20).

So, please examine yourself, especially the motive for your behaviour intently:

Do you have the attitude that nothing God does, or that another believer does is right or good except it be done through or by you?
Must have the last say otherwise nothing of worth has been said?

The Israelites were repeatedly guilty of these throughout their journey in the wilderness, and later as they settled in the land of Canaan. It goes without saying, as we are commanded that,

“whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col 3:23),

that we should do all things without grumbling, and without disputes or arguments.

I can’t repeat this often enough: Examine yourself:

Do you engage in murmuring?
What are you called to do for God, for others, or for yourself?
How do you go about it?
Do you do things wholeheartedly or under a heavy spirit of “this is not fair?”
Are you argumentative, especially over inconsequential things?
Do you disguise your fleshly desires under the gab of fighting for righteousness and for God?

Please, examine your motives for doing things.

Do remember that when you complain or grumble for whatever reason, God hears just as He heard the murmuring and disputing of the Israelites of old. And just as their murmurings and disputings displeased the LORD, so your own too if you murmur and dispute will displease Him (Ex 16:7-8; Num. 11:1; 14:27).

Murmuring continued in the New Testament church

As said before, murmurings and disputing did not stop with the old testament saints. Rather, it reared its head within the New Testament church.
The apostles apparently disputed amongst themselves for Christ Himself asked them concerning a dispute amongst themselves(Mark 9:33).
Many others murmured for and against various things and for a variety of reasons (1Cor 1:11).
Many disputed within the churches of the New Testament (Rom 16:17; 1Cor 3:3).

Resolve issues peaceably rather than engage in murmurings and disputings.

This is not saying we should just accept anything thrown at us just because we are believers and are not to complain.

When there are unpleasant situations, disagreements and misunderstandings, there are godly and acceptable ways to constructively redress the issue.

Both the content of the murmuring and disputing and their object are the critical issues.

Believers should not fall into open brawling and quarrels. Rather, they should resolve disagreements and misunderstandings constructively.

They should imitate the example of Abraham in the way he resolved the problem between Lot’s and his own herdsmen Gen 13:7-8).

Abraham was the uncle of Lot, and he brought him up. Further, Abraham was the head of the family with much privilege including the authority to make decisions that are binding upon every member of the family including Lot. But He did not stand on his rights to his advantage. Rather, he was kindly predisposed to Lot, went to him to yield his right rather than contend with him.

How do you respond to situations that are unpleasant?
How do you respond the errors and or the faults of fellow believers (both the leaders and the followers?).

To Recap

We must be aware of our position as children of God in this world.
We are to be aware of, and recognise our role,
- for our own sakes (our character, our position, and or own comfort),
- and for the sake of the world in which we live, i.e. our immediate environment.
For we are in the world but are not of the world.
Rather, we (i.e. believers), are on open display like a beautiful dress in the shop window of the world.
We are to be seen by the world which needs to be convicted of sin, be reproved, be enlightened concerning the things of God, and thereby be saved.
For we are the commentary on the word of God people read.
And it is often what they read there that either encourages or discourages them concerning God and His desire to save the world.

Concerning God, no matter your situation:

Never charge God with error. Never ascribe evil to God. Recognise His sovereignty over all His creation, including you.

Humble yourself under His mighty hands. Believe that whatever the situation, it will turn out for your God because God is at work.

Concerning fellow believers:

Deal with them in love. Make attempts to resolve misunderstandings peacefully with open, frank discussion, and a generous heart, in an atmosphere of truth where the Holy Spirit controls.

Resolution does not mean continuing association. There must be no bitterness, rather, the spirit of forgiveness should prevail.

Finally,

Whatever happens, remember, do not murmur and dispute with God, nor with other believers.
Take your problems and difficulties to God humbly in prayer, submitting yourself under His mighty hands.
Resolve your misunderstandings with fellow believers following the word of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Where errors and sins are involved, correct in love, and if indicated, involve others who may be able to bring the erring one back from his/her errors.

Philippians 2:14 is a direct directive to every believer in Christ: “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” And if individuals believers do all things without murmuring and disputings, it follows that a group or collection of such individual believers will do all that they do without murmuring or disputings. It will be an environment where the Lord is truly honoured and glorified.

Resolve from now on to engage in behaviour that honours God by doing all things without murmurings and disputings.

But what if you are not yet a believer in Christ?

Please understand that the above concerns the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. They can with the help of the Holy Spirit and the written word of God, and a humble spirit be able to be obedient to God. This is because what God demands of His people can only be done with the help of God.

So, if you are not yet a believer in Christ, if Jesus Christ is not yet your Saviour and Lord, the above may sound to you as unreal or a fairy tale. But I assure you it is real and not a fairy tale. And better still, you can come in and have what genuine believers in Christ have.

How?

By becoming a born-again child of God:

Accept God’s verdict concerning human beings:

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And that“the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

That is, in the opinion of God, we all fall short of His standard. Further, our sin has earned a deserved wage which is death or separation from God in hell.

But while we are still in our sin, God took the initiative to reconcile us with Himself as we are told:

“But God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Yes, while we were all still in our sin, God showed His love for us by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ to die for us. God gave Jesus Christ to the whole world (John 3:16). So, all we need to do is to accept that Christ has died for our sin by standing in place of us.

We do this by doing what the word of God commands all would-be believers:

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Everyone who appropriates the sacrifice of Christ is acceptable to Him. And He Himself extended the invitation to all:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

So, I encourage you to appropriate the finished work of Christ and confess Him as your Saviour and Lord NOW!

I prayer that God will accept you into His household through Christ in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Bible Study, Christian Conduct, Exhortation, Salvation, Uncategorized

Please, Ensure You Are Not Playing the Fool 0

January 30, 2019 Alex Oluwasakin

Humans are creatures of contrasts. We like to compare, and contrast virtually every, and all things. Though believers are told,

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves amongst themselves, are not wise.” (2Cor 10:12).

We still do it anyway. The problem with us comparing ourselves with others is that our standards are not consistent. We are always partial or biased towards ourselves, especially when the qualities are considered to be negative.

Hence, many like to be described with qualities considered good or positive like clever, beautiful, nice and the like. They ascribed to themselves, animal names like lion, tiger, eagle but would not want to be described as chicken, serpent or pig because of the perceived qualities or lack of it of those animals. None would want to be referred to as ugly, horrible or ill-mannered even if they are.

Some of the serious consequences of this unrealistic comparison include:

Unhealthy rivalry that come from inordinate ambition;
Pride that often lead to ill-treatment of others;
Selfishness and covetousness
Or others may become complacent and will therefore not make effort to improve.

So, today we want to tap ourselves on the shoulder as if to say, “wake up and check yourself.

Remember, we are to regularly examine ourselves to see if we are still in the faith, and with the aim of improving and growing (2Cor 13:5).

So, let us examine a very important biblical contrast to see which side we are on so we can then make necessary modifications.

This is a serious appeal to us all to, “Please, ensure you are not a fool.”

Put another way, “Please, ensure you are not playing the fool”

The word of God commands the believers in Christ to,

“¹⁵ See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15-16).

Background

To start with, many of the errors of the ungodly had been detailed (Eph. 5:3-5). After believers have been told of these errors, they are then informed that such ones will not inherit, that is, will not partake of the kingdom of Christ and of God (v.6).

They are then reminded that they are not to be partakers with the ungodly, though, they once as unbelievers had lived such ungodly lifestyle but are now delivered by Christ (vv.7-8).

But the possibility of regression to that ungodly behaviour is ever present. Hence, the warning is further reinforced by contrasting the live of the ungodly with that of the godly using the fool and the wise as illustration. The fool and the wise are here defined in relationship with God.

And so believers in Christ are commanded to:

¹⁵ See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

In view of what has been said above about the lifestyle of the ungodly and its consequence, the believers are to then see to it to be careful or take care and watch diligently.

Walk here represents the behaviour or lifestyle of the believers. Their day-to-day conduct and character. Everything concerning how they conduct their life. The believer is to walk circumspectly meaning implying with care and adequateness. The believer in Christ is to strictly conform to a norm or standard in both detail and completeness.

The Christian journey is like walking on a cliff edge

The believers in Christ are to behave like someone who necessarily must walk to safety through a cliff edge. On such a journey a misstep and a fall will lead to serious injuries or even death.

In such a situation, he will take every precaution to avoid any distractions. He will therefore be focused, taking as much care as possible to not make a mistake of allowing a slipup that could have catastrophic consequences.

A person in such a serious situation and who recognizes the dangers, will not likely require more talk or encouragement before using all he is capable of to avoid distractions and to make sure he successful walks through that dangerous cliff edge. This is how the believer’s journey of faith through life is expected to be like, he ensuring he avoids being side-tracked his flesh, the world and the kingdom of darkness all working together to derail his relationship with the Lord.

It is a reminder of what the Lord Himself said:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” (Mat 7:13).

And He further warned:

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24).

Put another way, the walk of the believer on the journey of faith is not a walk in the park. It is not a walk on a plain field where one could walk leisurely, stepping anyhow, stopping every-now-and-then to admire this or that scenery.

Rather, it is a walk on narrow road with many hair-pin turns, and numerous enticing but dangerous things clamouring for the believer’s attention. But enticing and desirable as such things may be, he must make every effort to refuse being enticed and ensnared.

As if to make the importance of these explicit and unmistakable, we are given the contrast between the fools and the wise.

But others before us ran the race before them, resisted all enticement and completed their journey successfully. It is still the same God with the same standard. The same help available to those old believers in God are available believers in Christ today.

Hence, we are told concerning:

Moses:

Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season. Because he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt for, he had respect unto the recompence of the reward (Heb. 11:23-26);

The Lord Jesus Christ:

We are to look,

“unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2);

Apostle Paul:

The NT records a lot of the afflictions and deprivations he went through because of his faith in Christ. His testimony towards the end of his days,

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2Tim 4:7).

But Believers in Christ are to walk not as fools.

But who is a fool?

The secular fool

In the secular society a fool is someone lacking in the powers of understanding or to use modern-day terminology, one mentally challenged. This is very different from the fool described on the pages of Holy Scripture.

The fool according to Holy Scripture

The fool described on the pages of Holy Scripture are often intellectually sound, and may accomplish much in the academic, business, science, politics and other areas of human endeavour. But in spite of what man may consider to be lofty achievements, they amount to nothing if God is not in their heart.

Hence, according to the Holy Scripture, the fool is the one who denies the existence of God (Ps 14:1; 53:1).

Some of the character traits of the fool include:

He “hath said in his heart, there is no God” (Ps 14:1; 53:1).
He utters slander(Pr. 10:18).
His way is right in his own eyes(Pr. 12:15).
It is abomination for him to turn away from evil (Pr. 13:19).
He makes a mock at sin(Pr. 14:9).
While the wise fears and departs from evil, the fool rages on and is confident (Pr. 14:16).
He despises his father’s instructions (Pr. 15:5).
He despises his mother(Pr. 15:20).
He trusts in his own heart (Pr. 28:26).
The fool walks in darkness(Eccl. 2:15).
He hears the words of Jesus, but does not do them, and is thus like one building on sand (Mat 7:26-27).
He lays up treasure for himself on earth while he is not rich towards God (Luke 12:20-21).
He changes“the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man” (Rom 1:22-23).

The believers are therefore not to walk as fools. Rather, they are to walk as wise.

The wise according to Holy Scripture

According to Holy Scripture, the wise is one who believes in and obeys God. Hence, we are informed,

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Pro. 9:10).

Believers are not to major or be experts in the negative only. But should major or be an expert in the positives as well. It is not enough to not be a fool, but in addition, to be wise.

Some character traits of the wise

He is a child of God through the finished work of Christ, having been born of water and of the spirit (John 3:3, 5).
If you are not yet born-again you are a none starter.
This is because God is the one that gives wisdom to the wise (Pr. 2:6; Dan 2:21), and you have no relationship with Him yet
The wise hearkens unto counsel (Pr. 12:15).
He fears and departs from evil (Pr. 14:16).
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly(Pr. 15:2).
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge (Pr. 15:7).
He hears the reproof of life(Pr. 15:31).
His heart teaches his mouth and adds learning to his lips (Pr. 16:23).
The ear of the wise seeks knowledge(Pr. 18:15).
He receives knowledge when he is instructed (Pr. 21:11).
The wise is the one who understands what the will of the Lord is (Eph. 5:17).

Not only are believers commanded to walk circumspectly, they are to be:

¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

For the believer in Christ, redeeming the time is making the most use of the time or making use of every opportunity. He walks in wisdom towards those outside the faith (Col 4:5), as he engages in good works with zeal (Tit 2:14). This is how the light of the believer in Christ will shine before men and they will glorify his father in heaven (Mat 5:16).

The reason the believers are to walk circumspectly is that the days are evil. Virtually anywhere you look there is one form of evil or another. Believers thus have to contend for the faith.

They are in the world but are not of the world, and the world loves her own people and things, but hates believers because they belong to God and love God instead of the world (cf. John 15:19; 17:14, 16).

Thus, the world and the devil will make every effort to co-opt the flesh and other aspects of the believer as allies in their war against the believer.

The believer has to therefore make the most of his time, to concentrating only on himself, but taking every opportunity to help others to overcome in resisting the devil and growing in their faith.

However, it is important to recognise that though believers are not to live in fear, they are to be aware of the dangers that surround them, and the different elements that are trying to pull them down.

This is a serious matter

Please, hear the command to believers in Christ again:

“¹⁵ See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15-16).

Believers in Christ are not to play the fool like Saul, the first king of Israel did.

“Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.” (1Sam 26:21).

To live circumspectly is to live their lives within the light of their position as children of God. They are to walk carefully and precisely following their Lord.

And to walk as fools is to descend or regress from this high level of fellowship and partaking in the divine nature with the Lord down to the life of the ungodly.

The believers are to walk i.e. live carefully, being wise or skilful, and thus please their Lord.

But do you belong to Christ or you are still outside without Christ?

The above speaks to true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope it is reasonable for me to make the assumption that you reading this piece is a believer in and a follower of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

That assumption is very massive in its potential consequences whether true or false.

If true, that is, you are born again, then we are told that you have been delivered from the powers of darkness and being translated into the kingdom of the Son of God (Col 1:12-13). And so, you have access to all that God promises to his people.

But if it is false, that is, if the Lord Jesus Christ is not yet your Saviour and Lord, the consequences are very dire indeed. Howbeit, all is not lost for that can change now.

So, you should act fast and NOW: Repent, that is, change your mind about what you think of God, Christ, sin and the purpose in life.

Wondering, “how do I become born again?”

The Holy Scriptures say that:

1. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

This means that in God’s opinion, we fall short of His standard.

2. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Our sin has earned a deserved wage which is death or separation from God in Hell.

3. “But God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Even in our sin, God continued to show us His love and demonstrated this love by sending his Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us. He thus gave Jesus Christ to the whole world (John 3:16).

4. There is only One step that must be taken:

1. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom 10:9-10).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

All that appropriate the sacrifice of Christ are acceptable to Him. For He Himself extended the invitation to all:

Why don’t you confess the Lord Jesus Christ NOW?

Please, do not reject that invitation as you do not know when you will be called by God to give account of your life!!!

I pray that you will take the necessary step towards the Lord and God will accept you in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Bible Study, Christian Conduct, Exhortation, Salvation, Uncategorized

You should be content and here is the why and how 0

June 18, 2018 Alex Oluwasakin

You often hear people speak of contentment. Oftentimes in the context of advice to one considered overtly materialistic and who in spite of having much in material things seem to be not only unhappy, but craves for even more. It could be someone whose idea of success is not being realised. Such a person is then advised to, “be content with what you have.” Such adviser too often uses the word contentment in a manner that suggests that a person should not strife or seek to improve his current situation even when such situation is not a pleasant one.

This is also how some see contentment: “be satisfy with your lot, good or bad. It is just your fate!” As such, these people do not want to have anything to do with contentment.

But is that what the bible teaches about being content, that a person should not try to be better or improve himself? I do not think so.

At the other end is the one who has much of the things of this world, the assumption is that such a one with much wealth should be content with his lot, but to those around, it is obvious such a wealthy person is far from being content. It would appear that both those who have abundance of, and those who are poor in material things are bitten by the bug of discontent indiscriminately. Even so called Christians are not left out.

What is your idea of being content or contentment? Do you think if you obtain that thing which you so desire (could be money, university degree, a plum job, a baby, become married, and whatever people use as excuse), you will then become content?

Many are so given to worries about what they lack or don’t have but crave, that they can neither appreciate nor enjoy what they have. Hearing the speech of some Christians you will think that the Lord is no more on the throne: they are always bemoaning their situation or the situation of another.

Life has gotten so unpleasant for some that by their words and actions they make life unpleasant for those around them as they never seem to see anything good in them. They are just not content with their situation and they lash out in all directions.

Content: To appease the desires of. To limit (oneself) in requirements, desires, or actions.
Contented: feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status or situation.
Hence, contentment is the quality or state of being contented.

Considering the considerable level of discontent amongst believers, it is not surprising, the word of God has much to say about being content or contentment. What is surprising is that in spite of what the Holy Bible says about being content, so many believers remain in discontentment.

But the believer in Christ is admonished to be content with what he has. True, the bible counsels the believer to “be content with such things as ye have” (Heb. 13:5). Further, the apostle Paul tells of his practical real life situation when he spoke on the matter of being content.

The apostle Paul in prison

The Apostle Paul with Silas and Timothy had founded the church in Philippi several years previously (Acts 16:12-40). The Philippian church though not so rich in material things have been quite supportive of the Apostle, sending him material support, for example, while in Thessalonica. But the Apostle had not heard anything from them for a while.

Now, the Apostle was in prison in Rome not for any crime committed but for preaching the gospel of Christ. While there in prison, the Philippian church sent him a present for his support. The Apostle is grateful and thankfully acknowledges their kindness to him (Phil 4:10-19). Philippians 4:11-13 speaks specifically of the apostle being content in his situation.

We read:

“¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Yes, the person speaking was an Apostle. He was writing from his prison cell (a terrible place to be in those days).

He said he was not speaking from being in need or want, that is, not from the absence of that which is necessary, needed or wanted. Because he has learned (from practical experience) that in whatever circumstances or situation he may be in to be content. He has learnt to be free from care or worry because of being pleased with what is already his own.

Contentment then is an uncomplaining acceptance of our share. It is a habit or permanent state of mind while satisfaction has to do with a particular instance of a thing or situation. Put another way, contentment is more inward than mere satisfaction.

Notice that this state of mind did not just happened. He learned it. Others can be what they want but this is what “I have decided for myself,” says the apostle to the gentiles! His varied situations and circumstances instructed him. He was a good student of his circumstances. Whether he had little, much or none, in comfort or discomfort: he truly knew how to have, not to have, and to suffer, all this while being a child of the living God, serving the risen Lord!

What was his experience from which he learned to be content? Scripture gives us some glimpses:

“Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place” (1Cor 4:11)
“as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2Cor 6:10)
“in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2Cor 11:27).
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2Cor 12:9).

Could this be a practical occurrence of what Christ spoke concerning His followers? Still wondering what the Lord said? Wonder no more. Here it is:

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

Hence, when he is talking, the apostle knows what he is talking about.

Have you learned from your experience? Do you even allow your experience to teach you at all? Or you are full of grumbling and are grumpy most of the time bemoaning your “bad lot?”

He indeed recognised where the strength for his content and life of victory came from for he said:

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:13)

Have you observed that even as an apostle much used by God to further the gospel of Christ, he was not isolated from the experiences of ordinary human beings like you and me? So when the bible says: “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are” (Jam 5:17), yet he was much used of God, it is God in the life of the individual that makes for the big difference.

As Christ Himself said, “without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5). And further, we are informed that, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13).

Nothing in you of itself makes you special. Stop deceiving yourself thinking you are some spiritual giant or connected to some power house of a person. Those are ego trips that eventually lead to ruin if not stopped.

Hear the word of God:

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Cor 10:13).

This should stop you thinking that something terrible or unheard of has happened to you. Or that you are the only one going through tough times even while you remain faithful to God.

Yes, I know how you thumb up your credentials in the face of God: I pay my tithes; I give offering generously, I attend every church program, I sow into the life of every man of God, I pray and fast, I even do not indulge in any sin etc. You are shouting at God: “What else do you want me to do?”

Better watch it and mind your language for you are talking to the sovereign God with whom “all things are possible” (Mark 10:27), and further, “every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom 14:12).

You should by now have realised that, it is not the acquisition of big titles conferred on you by yourself or by others: bishop of bishops, voice of God for the moment or ego-boosting descriptions: spiritual giant, prayer caterpillar, and other bogus accolades, but having a relationship with the Lord and recognising His sovereignty over you and over all His creation that is important.

The year is moving on and many of the falsehood the false prophets have declared are already falling apart: “The year of enlargement” “The year the gentiles will pour their wealth into your lap” “The year of breakthrough after sowing dangerously” “The year of the king”, “The year that all sufferings will end” and other such nonsense that the gullible continue to fall for.

All the while the false prophets and false teachers and their ilk continue to smile as they receive the alert of bountiful harvest of money in their accounts. Better stop fearing them which are trying to kill your body by taking all your substance through subterfuge and stealth of men, but fear God.

Yes:

“fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mat 10:28).

Hear and obey the word of God that says you should:

“henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” (Eph. 4:14).

Now, about the apostle’s practice of being content.

He said:

“¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Phil 4:11).

“¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: That is I am not speaking out of some lack or deficiency; I am not saying this because of the absence of that which is necessary, needed or wanted by me.

for I have learned: I have learnt by experience, or by the things I have been through. I have experiences from which I have learnt things.

in whatsoever state: any circumstances or situation. Whatever my circumstances may be.

I am, therewith: with it; even with that state

to be content: contentment, being free from care or worry because of being pleased with what is already your own. Contentment is more inward than satisfaction.

In this verse, the apostle says that he had learnt from practical experience that whatever may be his situation or circumstance, even in that state, to be content or be free from worry or care because of being pleased or satisfied with what he has. In other words, when he had much and was comfortable, he was content but was not controlled by the abundance. And when he lacked basic needs, or was in physical bodily and emotional pain or was in danger for his life, or was in the worst adverse situation, even when he despaired, he was not discontented. Rather, he remain contented.

Some questions to consider

Are you in discontent? Why?
Do you have Christ as your Lord and Saviour? Really?
Check your relationship with the Lord now! Please, be sincere with yourself.
Do you think you will be content when you acquire what you think you lack but crave?
Do you think those who have in abundance what you lack but crave are content?
What evidence do you have for your conclusion?

Contentment in an uncomplaining acceptance of our share. Contentment is a habit or permanent state of mind while satisfaction has to do with a particular instance of a thing or situation

I have learned: I (others can be what they want but this is what I have decided for myself)

“¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Phil 4:12).

¹² I know both how to be abased:

abased: made of lower rank, office, or prestige.

To live in circumstances regarded to be characteristic of low status. I know how to be of no reputation or a “nobody” or have a lack or insufficiency.

and I know how to abound: to have more than enough; or to be held in high esteem or have authority.

everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need

abound and to suffer need: Whatever the circumstances or event may be I am taught how to respond appropriately. Whatever my circumstance, I am able to withstand it and come out tops.

Whatever the circumstances may be I have been there, and have been up to it, and came out tops with my relationship with my Lord being glorified all the while.

“¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:13).

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

What he is saying is that: His sufficiency is from the Lord who is able to supply whatever he needed for each and every situation. This is how and why he has survived every manner of circumstances whatsoever.

This verse of Scripture is often misused:

It is not saying that whatever a Christian does he will succeed in it or that a Christian can do just anything, like a person who never learnt how to pilot a plane being able to fly a plane, or one who never trained as a doctor wanting to practice as a doctor because “he can do all things because Christ will strengthen and give him knowledge!”

Rather, it is that Christ sustains the believer through all circumstances. His promise is I will be with you till the end of the age, and I will never leave you, nor forsake you (Mat 28:20; Heb. 13:5).

This speaks of the believer who knows what it is to be strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man (Eph. 3:16).

So, don’t go and dabble into a business you don’t know anything about, and refuse to learn what you need to know to do it properly, and expect God to “just do it for you” Or to just do little or nothing and get rich quickly because you can do all things….

God is not an immoral God, rather, He is a just God. He will bless the works of your hand that are in keeping with His character, but not your laziness, ignorance or presumption!!!

The apostle believed in the sovereignty and providence of God for and in all circumstances. So should all true Christians too.

Contentment in an uncomplaining acceptance of our share.

Contentment is a habit or permanent state of mind while satisfaction has to do with a particular instance of a thing or situation

It comes from believing in the sovereignty and providence of God for and in all circumstances

Contentment is not complacency, not fatalism, and not licence for laziness!

However, please know that contentment is not the same as passive resignation to a situation. Contentment is not fatalism. Contentment is not pandering to the philosophy of “whatever will be will be”.

Contentment is never a licence to not strife to be the best you can become. Rather, contentment allows you to be at peace with yourself, others, and God in your current circumstances believing that God is there with you and will enable everything to work out for your good, and His glory.

Contentment enables you to annex and use the energy you would have used complaining and throwing tantrum against yourself, everyone around you, and even God, to continue to do your best in the current circumstances as you believe God for both progress and victory. Contentment enables you to have the levelheadedness to sincerely and critically evaluate your situation, deduce what you can do in the light of what is within your means, and what God would do, and to be at peace with that. Contentment enables you to forget the past, to ever push strenuously towards the mark of your high calling in Christ.

In contentment, there is no room or place for laziness, complacency, presumption or fatalism. Only that as you continue your life of faith in obedience under the sovereign reign of the Lord, you continue to do what you are able to do to the best of your ability, as God works out what is best for you according to the counsel of His own will.

As can be seen in the life of the apostle, though content, he did not fold his hand sitting in a corner expecting God to do everything by instant miracle. Rather, being content, he applied himself vigorously and diligently to his ministry and calling working hard and to the best of his ability, all the while believing that God was with him and ordering his steps. All believers including you should behave likewise.

But note, if you are not content, then you are discontented

There are many things contentment is opposed to, and few are mentioned below.

Contentment is opposed to:

Worry (Mat 6:25, 34)

Mat 6:25: “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”

Mat 6:34: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

When you are content, you will not worry. Not worrying will not because you have no problem or you solve all your problems, but because you recognise the sovereignty of God over your life.

Murmuring (1Cor 10:10)

1Cor 10:10: “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”

When you are content, you will not murmur. Resting in the sovereign reign of God over your life, you will take your problems and challenges and aspirations to Him in prayer, and with thanks giving. Knowing that God cares for you, you will take your needs to Him (1Pet 5:7).

Greed (Heb. 13:5)

Heb. 13:5: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Your lifestyle (conversation) should be without greediness or inordinate material acquisitiveness. You should not live like the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21). This man imagined that after acquiring more than enough for a lifetime of luxury, he would just fold his hands doing nothing for the rest of his life. In his thinking, he left out ay desire to help fellow human beings in need, and God who would have made everything available and possible.

Envy (Jam 3:16)

Jam 3:16: “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

Envy is a serious and dangerous thing. It can lead to other equally serious sins like murder.

For example:

Out of envy, the brothers of Joseph sold him into slavery (cf. Gen 37:4, 11, 28; Ps 105:17; Acts 7:9).

Envy was part of the reason the chief priests and elders had delivered up the Lord Jesus Christ to be crucified (Mat 27:18; Mark 15:10).

All of these (worry, murmuring, greed, envy, and many more), are sinful attitudes that spring from discontentment from an evil heart of unbelief.

Check yourself by the word of God now to see if you are in discontent or not. Do you have any of these that contentment is opposed to?

Contentment does not come from neither does it consist of abundance or lack of materials

But what determines contentment? Does it depend on circumstances, church or country?

There are many people who think that contentment comes from whatever they crave to have. They tended to crave for more of the things they have, or pine for the things they lack. The unfortunate thing is that they soon discover that having what they crave brings no contentment. For as soon as they have what they crave, they want more and even more and are never satisfied. Having abundance of something does not bring contentment.

Hence, dissatisfaction, discouragement and division are often symptoms of discontentment in the lives of people.

Contentment must thus be equated with confidence in the sovereignty of the only true and living, great I AM over His creation.

You are to be content because the believer in Christ is commanded to be content

But contentment is expected of the believer in Christ in all circumstances. And because it is commanded by the Holy Scriptures, it is thus attainable. Hence some of the specific situations in the life of the believer where being content is commanded, and can be demonstrated are:

With his wages (Luke 3:14);
In spite of his circumstances as here (Phil 4:11);
With food and raiment (1Tim 6:8) and
With the things he has (Heb. 13:5).

Again, remember that, since contentment is commanded of the believer, it must be attainable; and discontentment is a manifestation of unbelief.

So if you lack contentment, how do you become a contented person?

How to be content: Learn to be content

The apostle and many other believers learnt to be content. This then means to be content is not automatic. You don’t become content just because you have become a Christian. As the apostles and other believers before you have learnt, so can you and other believers now lean to be content too. For contentment is a learned behaviour.

So, start taking the necessary actions now to move towards being content. Do this as taught by the Word of God:

Many believers are too intertwined, too closely associated with the world that without knowing they are living by the standards and values of the world. This is made worse by there being many unbelievers within the church of God. So it is difficult for those who are not discerning to know what to do. The believer needs to retrace his steps and come back to the ways of God. The word of God offers us how to do the essential things to be content as God commands us believers:

Let us see the steps in Psalm 1:1-3 as template:

Separation (not segregation) from the world.

The children of God are in the world but are not of the world. We live in the world and interact with it. We are surrounded by unbelievers wherever we turn and the unbeliever will not let you be, but makes efforts in various ways to make you conform to his ways. Hence there is great need for the believer to learn how to rightly relate with the world without being conformed to its ways.

The more you relate closely to the world the more you copy their ideas, values and standards. Therefore, unless Christians are rightly related to the world, they will never have contentment in their souls.

The Christian is to be separated from the world.

Psalm 1:1: “Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

From this Ps 1:1, biblical separation means:

To reject the counsel of the ungodly
To reject the company of sinners and
To reject the contempt of the scornful

Having been saved by the grace of God through faith, the Christian no longer closely associates with nor follows sinners to do evil. He does not stand in the congregation of sinners.

Become saturated with the word of God.

Ps 1:2: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.” You turn from the world, and turn to God and the word of God.

The contented Christian is characterised by being saturated with the word of God as indicated in this verse: (Ps 1:2). His view of life springs from the Word of God. His delight is in the teachings of the bible.

He makes deliberate efforts to know the word, and delights (enjoys) in doing that. He deliberates on its truths day and night, reading, listening and meditating on its words.

In meditation, you call the word of God to mind, think over it, dwelling on and applying it to yourself, the various things you are learning and knowing about the works, ways, purposes and promises of God.

Such saturation with the Scriptures is the secret to contentment in the soul.

Such a one becomes “like a tree planted by the rivers of water” (Ps 1:3). The believer who is content is like a tree planted by the rivers of water.

Believers are told of the Holy Spirit by the Lord Himself this way:

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water……” (John 7:38-39).

The believer thus carries the presence of God in the person of the Holy Spirit who resides within him always.

Thus, rivers of water is a wonderful picture of the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit within the believer, God’s supply of grace is constant and inexhaustible. And fruitfulness will come in its due season.

Finally, personal contentment in a person results in proper perspectives, priorities and progress.

Hence, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1Tim. 6:6).

Again remember that: Contentment in an uncomplaining acceptance of our share.

Contentment is a habit or permanent state of mind while satisfaction has to do with a particular instance of a thing or situation.

Contentment comes from believing in the sovereignty and providence of God for and in all circumstances

Biblical contentment is demonstrable

Please bear in mind that as you make progress, you will begin to show your contentment by recognizing:

Your unworthiness (Gen 32:9-10).

Nothing we get from God is due to our merit but is because of the grace of God. As you recognise your unworthiness in the sense that you realise that whatever you have is not a payback for some good thing you have done for God, you are humbled and in your humility, you appreciate the grace of God towards you even more.

The object of your trust (Hab. 3:17-19)

Who are you trusting? Your ability or connections? You learn not to put your trust in ability or connections.

As you reflect more on your attitude and activities, you become aware of the basis from where you operate, that is, whom you are putting your trust as you carry out your daily activities. It becomes more apparent to you that the more you know God’s word, the more you put your trust in Him, and the more the things of the world begin to loose their ability to attract and entice you. Hence, you begin to trust God more explicitly and implicitly.

Rather than trusting yourself or other things, you begin to trust God whatever the circumstances may be (Hab. 3:17-19):

Hab. 3:17-19: “¹⁷ Although the fig tree shall not blossom, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labour of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no meat; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls: ¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. ¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength, And he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, And he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.”

God’s care of us (Ps 145:7-21; 1Pet 5:7)

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1Pet 5:7).

Your cares (the things you need, desire and crave) cling to you tenaciously demanding to be attended to. Their power over you can be very overwhelming. That is why desires that are not met lead to worry and fear.

As you realise that it is God that is able to meet your needs, and as you learn to separate needs from greed and covetousness, you begin to loose your appetite for acquisition for acquisition’s sake. You begin to recognise, acknowledge, appreciate, and be more thankful for God’s care.

God has given His Son for us. He will not withhold any good thing from us. So you cast your cares upon Him. You just know things will be alright just because God is there for you!

God’s provisions (1Tim 6:6-8).

1Tim 6:6-8: “⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

It becomes easier for you to recognise what actually are your needs as opposed to your desires and wants that you can actually do without. You begin to see that many of the things you crave are not as important as you had thought them to be, and the oppressive power of your cravings begin to wane.

And you begin to be aware that in reality, your needs are being met through God’s provisions.

God’s Promises (Heb. 13:5)

Heb. 13:5: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Faith is not “just believe anyway!” Rather, faith has something very tangible, very real to hold on to, that is, the very word of God.

Abraham, commonly referred to as the father of faith did not just believe out of thin air. But he heard the voice of one he recognised as God, believed and obeyed. Similarly, all believers, including you reading this, are to believe in the word of God.

Remember we instructed thus, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom 10:17).

And the truth is,

“²²It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lam 3:22-23).

God has proved Himself to be reliable and trustworthy over the ages. Trust Him for He never fails.

Lastly, again remember that:

Ø Contentment in an uncomplaining acceptance of our share.

Ø It comes from believing in the sovereignty and providence of God for and in all circumstances

Again, hear the apostle:
“I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:11-13).

Let us make every effort to emulate the apostle in this noble virtue of being content.

But do remember:

Contentment comes from being in Christ with God reigning sovereignly over your life as you walk in obedience to His will. It is a learned behaviour. The experiences of life, the word or God and the power of the Holy Spirit enables the believer to continue in this school throughout life.

Dissatisfaction, discouragement and division are often symptoms of discontentment.

Contentment is opposed to sinful attitudes that spring from discontentment from an evil heart of unbelief, some of which are namely: Worry (Mat 6:25, 34); Murmuring (1Cor 10:10); Greed (Heb. 13:5); and Envy (Jam 3:16). Hence, discontentment is a manifestation of unbelief while to be content is a manifestation of a faith in God.

Contentment is expected of the believer in Christ in all circumstances, and because it is commanded by the Holy Scriptures, it thus attainable.

Being content is a learned behaviour (Ps 1:1-3). First disengage or separate not segregate from the world. Turn completely to God. Become Saturated with the Word of God. Personal contentment results in proper perspectives, priorities and progress.

As you make progress, you will begin to show your contentment by recognizing: Your unworthiness (Gen 32:9-19); the object of your trust (Hab. 3:17-19); God’s care of you (Ps 145:7-21; 1Pet 5:7); God’s provision (1Tim 6:6-8); and God’s promises (Heb. 13:5).

But are you a believer in Christ? Is the Lord Jesus Christ your Saviour and your Lord?

Please, understand that the above refers to a person who has made peace with God through believing in the work of Christ on the cross. A person who has been saved through faith by grace through the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

You cannot begin to talk of being content outside of Christ.

It does not matter how much of the world you acquire and by whatever means, you will never be content without Christ being your Lord and Saviour. Any semblance of contentment will be a mirage, simply put, a shadow that fades as the sun of temporary gratification that brought it sets unexpectedly.

If you do not belong in this group, that is, if Jesus Christ is not yet your Saviour and Lord, you have no part in Christ yet.

A Christ-less life is a crises-filled, hell-heading life on a brakeless but fast-moving vehicle.

You need to get out of that vehicle now before it is too late, and it crashes headlong into hell.

So, you should act fast and NOW: Repent, that is, change your mind about what you think of God, Christ, sin and the purpose in life.

Perhaps you are wondering what to do; thinking “how do I become born again?”

The Scriptures say that:

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

This means that in God’s opinion, we fall short of His standard.

“For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Our sin has earned a deserved wage which is death or separation from God in Hell.

“But God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Even in our sin, God continued to show us His love and demonstrated this love by sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us. He thus gave Jesus Christ to the whole world (John 3:16).

There is only One step that must be taken:
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom 10:9-10).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

All that appropriate the sacrifice of Christ are acceptable to Him. For He Himself extended the invitation to all:

Why don’t you confess the Lord Jesus Christ NOW?

How you ask? Step 5

Arise now and confess with your mouth that the Lord Jesus had come in the flesh and died for your sins, confess that He is now your Saviour and Lord, and, believe in your heart that God had raised Him from the dead. Confess your sins to the Lord now. That is what it means (and for want of a better way to say it), to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and your Lord.

If you have done that sincerely, then you are now a born-again child of God, follower of Christ. It is not about what or how you feel, but what the word of God says. Still saying you need help as to what to pray?

You may pray like this:

Dear Lord Jesus, I now know, accept, and confess that I am a sinner. I deserve to pay the penalty for my sins, but realize that I don’t have the means to pay. I accept, and confess that You came to the world and died in my place and thus paid for my sins. I believe in my heart that God had raised you from the dead. From this moment, I put my trust in You as my Saviour and my Lord. I will continue to Trust in, Depend on, and Obey You in everything for the rest of my life. Thank you my Saviour and my Lord. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

That is it!

Again, I repeat: If you have done that sincerely, then you are now a born-again child of God, follower of Christ. It is not about what or how you feel, but what the word of God says. You are now a born-again bona fide child of God.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

But please understand that becoming born-again is the beginning of a New You in a New Life.
It is the beginning of an eternal relationship with the Triune God.
It is the beginning of a life-long journey of faith in and with the Lord Jesus Christ, and in company of other believers in Christ.

To continue earnestly on your New journey, and to nurture and grow in your relationship with the Lord, I encourage you to start along with the following:

Look for a bible-believing church around you to be attending.
Fellowship with other believers as you have opportunity
Pray daily for others and for yourself.
Read your bible daily asking for the Holy Spirit to explain the word of God to you.
Witness to others about Jesus Christ

May our God guide and uphold you in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Christian Conduct, Exhortation, Salvation, Uncategorized

Following Christ: Terms and Conditions Apply 0

March 21, 2018 Alex Oluwasakin

People enter into various kinds of agreement or contract. Such contract will usually have what is commonly terms and conditions under which such a contract is to be operated. Such terms and conditions are usually written by the provider of the service or product to which a user would want to avail himself. In case of a dispute, such terms and conditions are expected to play a major role in arbitration as attempts are made to reconcile the parties involved. Hence, the terms and conditions documents are very important in any transaction in modern day life.

Similarly, to everyday transactions, the Christian faith has terms and conditions too. I see you are surprises about “Terms and Conditions” being applied to Christianity. The Christian faith humanly speaking has Terms and Conditions as spelt out by its founder, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, there are Terms and Conditions to be agreed to before you can be a follower of Christ. Have you seen those Terms and Conditions? Have you read them? Do you understand them? Do you agree to the T & C? Are you following the Terms and Conditions?

Where may we look to find these terms and conditions for biblical Christianity? They are to be found within the pages of the Holy Bible. Before you start rolling your eyes as you wonder, let us have a look at one article in the Terms and conditions as stated by the Lord Himself:

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23).

A common life practice

The Lord Jesus Christ spoke to His disciples about what they would be getting into if they wanted to follow Him. He frequently spoke about the terms and conditions of discipleship. He did not hide anything from them. Though He called them, He made them to feel that they had a choice in the matter, that after being called they could follow Him or refuse to follow Him.

Although, what the Lord demands of and expects from His disciples is not so-called, I here refer to such as the Terms and Conditions of discipleship as an illustration to aid our understanding.

Everyone enters into several contracts (using a website, mobile phone, car, mortgage, gadgets, and numerous services and products), on a regular basis as part of daily living. In most cases, other than perhaps lawyers, people hardly allocate more than a glance to terms and conditions of a service or contract, at least not until something goes wrong.

When something goes wrong or there is dispute, you begin to hear phrases like, “reading between the line”, “the small letters”, “the small print” and such other terminologies that usually indicate requirements that are crucial but hidden deep in the documents, and which the average user did not get to till something went wrong and the provider begins to “throw the book at us” as people commonly describe the attitude of the provider in a dispute.

“How was I supposed to know that was there?” the user would ask incredulously. And the provider would retort, “but it was there all the time, you should have read it!”

While it is common place for people to not read the terms and conditions of a contract, this attitude should not be carried over to their Christian faith. Christianity is a serious issue with eternal consequences. Anyone who claims to be a Christian should be expected to know what they are getting into.

There should be no complacency

Many are complacent in their followership of Christ Unfortunately, just as people ignore (myself included) reading and understanding the terms and conditions in physical contracts, believers in Christ also forget to read and to know the Terms and Conditions of being a Christian and a disciple of Christ.

Many assume they already know enough of the T & C as they had read through the whole bible once before. Many Christians are no more growing spiritually though they engage in numerous church activities. Indeed, many think that getting involved in a flurry of church programs and activities is an indication of growth and closeness to God!

This is rather unfortunate, especially when it is realised that unlike man-written terms and conditions of a service, the triune God made the terms and conditions of His relationship with man known and repeatedly commanded that His people take their due diligence to know them all the time.

The terms and conditions of being a Christian are to be read, and re-read as an on-going, life-long practice. There should be complacency about this.

Same standard demanded of all Christians

I am aware that some tended to divide Christians into two groups: those who are Christians and somehow are not disciples (the claim is that the rules are somehow relaxed for these ones), and those who are Christians and disciples (for which the rules are somewhat stricter). I can tell you straight away that there is no such dichotomy of the followers of Christ in Scripture. The same conditions are demanded and commanded to be met by all believers in Christ. All followers of Christ are called to discipleship.

Whether you are in leadership position or followership position in the church, all are held to the same standard. The assignments of the individuals and the accompany gifts of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the assignment will differ, but all are held to the same level of ethical behaviour and character. All are called to grow “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:13).

And virtual every genuine representative of the Living God, from the prophets and teachers of the Old testament to the Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God Himself, and His apostles perpetually stated and reminded the people of God, the crucial importance of operating according to the Terms and Conditions as revealed in the written word of God, the Holy Scripture.

One item on the T & C

We want to take a closer look at one of the conditions in the Terms and Conditions of following Christ as stated by the Lord Himself:

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23).

This command was made by the Lord on several occasions and in various forms. But how many followers of Christ have actually tried to answer the question, “What does the Lord mean when He says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”?

It was “said to them all.” Note that it did not say to a few, to some, but rather, to them all meaning all those disciples then present, and by extension all who thereafter would want to follow Him down through that time to our day.Yes, there are many today who claim to follow Christ, including the one writing this article now.

But how many of us know there is a document containing the terms and conditions of such followership?
For those who are aware of the document, how many have read and understood them?
How many are practicing their faith according to those terms and conditions?
How many regularly re-read those terms and conditions so as to be trained, corrected, reproved, encouraged and to be found pleasing their Saviour and Lord on a continuous basis, and as an on-going life-long process?

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

None following The Lord as He followed His Father

And he said to them all:

The Lord spoke to those who were following and listening to Him. To the average onlooker, the crowd which followed Christ would have been considered to believe in Him and had committed themselves to Him. But He was aware of their fickle-mindedness. Many followed Him because they felt entertained. Many followed because they ate His food. Many followed to mock and make jest. Many followed to argue and tried to trap Him in His words. Many followed because they had nothing else to do. Many followed because they were healed or had miracles performed on loved ones.

Many followed because they thought He was going to deliver Israel from Roman occupation and oppression at that time. Very few followed because they believed in Him. Fewer still followed Him because they have some love for Him. A tiny few followed Him because they believed in Him and loved Him though they did not understand many of what He taught them. These and many more are the reasons people followed Him.

To them all he spoke, rather, the Lord Jesus Christ laid down the marker:

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Are you following the Lord as a member of the faceless crowd?
Or are you committed to the Lord?

But none in the above crowd seemed to follow Him the way He had committed to and followed His Father. And the Lord wanted those who will commit to and follow Him the way He had committed to and followed His Father. to know what they will be committing themselves to.

The Lord needed to let them know what it would entail in committing to following Him, and that they had a choice to make. He did not want to leave room for any doubt. He wanted them to make an informed decision. Again, He laid down the marker, so to say, “said to them all.” ALL of them without exception.

There are Terms and Conditions of following the Lord

Yes, Terms and Conditions apply!

If any man will come after me:

There is a choice to be made, a firm decision to be made. It is a commitment that is demanded. If: It is conditional. It is a big “If” A person may decide not to come after the Lord. Several heard His teachings, followed Him for a while, and then chose not to follow Him any longer, as we are told,

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66).

But if a person chooses or decides to follow Christ, there are conditions to meet. Yes, Terms and Conditions apply.

As you are already aware, in our day, we commonly hear or read of offers or bargains to take advantage of. The deal may be real mouthwatering as they say, that is, until you read, T & C or Terms and Conditions apply. You suddenly realise the T & C means there are strings attached. You really have to think hard as to whether such offer is worth it after all.

Among the crowd that followed the Lord Jesus Christ, many left. They refused to take up His offer so to say. Those who left did not agree with the little they heard about the Terms and Conditions of followership required by the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore did not follow Him anymore. They made the choice not to follow Him anymore.

Are you following the Lord?
Have you read the Terms and Conditions of following Him?
Are you adhering to those T & C or not?
Or Are you claiming to follow Christ but have set up your own Terms and Conditions?
Do you re-read the Terms and Conditions regularly?

Salvation is free to the one who believes and commits to the Lord Jesus Christ because the Lord has paid the required death penalty and all the attendant collateral expenses.

There are enemies at the gate

But there is a cost to coming after or following Christ. This is as a result of what the believer had been involved in before salvation, some of which may not only be still on-going but for which he clings to tenaciously.

In addition, and very importantly, the enemy without, that is, the devil and the world both of which have a willing ally within, that is the flesh. All three (the devil, the world, and the flesh), combine in an ungodly alliance to wage a fierce, wicked, often successful war against the would-be Christian disciple. This trilogy of wickedness has one and only one purpose, to derail and if possible, ruin the life of the believer.

One personal decision to make

Hence, you don’t follow Christ flippantly. You must count the cost (Luke 14:28-33). So, if one decides to come after Christ, he must read the Terms and Conditions and then agree to them.

I am aware that many people have difficulty making decisions. They get confused as to which way to go. But this is one decision that cannot be delayed. One decision that no one else can make for a person. You the individual must make the decision yourself.

It is a personal decision that must be made resolutely: You must ensure that every avenue that will facilitate your turning back later is completely blocked and can never be reopened. Again, hear the Lord Himself,

“And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62).

Many had committed to the Lord

Joshua put his hands on the plough as a young man and refused to look back. Decades later as an old man, he could affirm that decision publicly, saying,

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Jos. 24:15).

The twelve apostles minus Judas Iscariot committed to the Lord

The apostle Paul was wholeheartedly committed to the Lord Jesus Christ, and he could say towards the end of the life that,

^“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2Tim 4:7).

We must follow the Lord by Choice.
Are you?
And if not yet, will you?

You must deny yourself

First you decide to follow Christ. Next you deny yourself

let him deny himself:

deny: To disown, ignore or repudiate.

Let him deny himself:

The one who follows Christ is to willfully refuse to acknowledge himself. He is to purposefully refuse to put himself first before Christ. He is to disown himself as if he does not exist, no praises, no desire to share the honour of God with God. Make himself of no reputation, not seeking fame or prominence as the motive for serving the Lord.

It is a personal, self-made decision. It is not a one-off thing. Rather, it must be an on-going life-long habit and lifestyle. The believer in Christ must purposefully, deliberately refuse to acknowledge himself, making himself of no reputation in the process.

To echo John the Baptist, the believer must decrease, and Christ must increase in him, and continuously so until he comes

“unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (John 3:30; Eph. 4:13).

There must be no subterfuge to surreptitiously share the glory of God with Him for what He is using you to do in His service (Is 42:8).

It is a daily, lifetime walk

and take up his cross daily:

Coming after Christ is a daily affair. It is not a once-in-awhile or Sunday, Sunday affair. It is a lifestyle. There is no part-time Christianity neither should there be part-time Christians. There is a cross for everyone that follows Christ, though not as heavy as His was, it could still entail much suffering and much pain.

As we are told, that the believers are,

“to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22).

And we are told that those who are going through these are to,

“rejoice, in as much as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1Pet 4:13).

And so, the Lord Himself laid down the marker,

“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Mat 10:38).

Further,

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33).

Many are very devoted to themselves and so engage in many selfish interests. They nurture their ego, become a god to themselves and therefore fail to win over themselves enough to be able to do anything for God. But we should be devoted to God. The command is,

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mat 6:33).

Hence, we should put into practice, faithful church attendance, daily prayer, daily bible reading, and sharing Christ with others, all of which help us bring self under control.

The master leads and the disciple follow the master

and follow me:

The master leads always, and the disciple follows always. You put your foot where His has been. There will be occasions when we do not measure up, and times we fail. But we should refuse to be discouraged. Many fail because they lack the courage and determination to say no to the flesh, and its insatiable appetites. But having the Lord in focus, and cooperation with the Holy Spirit, as we stay in the word will go a long way in ensuring that we succeed much more often than we falter.

You cannot serve yourself and serve Christ. You cannot be your own Lord, and Christ be your Lord at the same time.

It is,

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26).

Simply put, Christ must be first before all and everything else in the life of the disciple. Remember, this is speaking to a person who is already saved.

An unsaved person cannot be expected to commit to following Christ as spiritual things,

“are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Cor 2:14).

As we are told concerning the believers in Christ,

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” (Tit 2:11-12).

This is calling for a decisive decision. Why? Because Jesus Christ Himself took the way of self-denial.

The Lord kept His Father’s commandments.

The Lords says,

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10).

And further,

“For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” (John 12:49-50).

And

“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39).

The Lord is similarly saying, “you must deny yourself because I first denied myself.” Self-denial is not to say Christ was an ascetic or that He led an austere life.

The Lord is very clear in His demand. This is not a suggestion or one option out of many that one may choose or not and still follow Him. Hear Him again:

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23).
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26).

But what really was self-denial for Christ?

The Lord came to fulfil the will of His father, and not His own will. He therefore subjected Himself to the will and direction of the Father. He denied Himself anything and all things that could be in the way of His fulfilling the will of His Father. Yes, to Christ, everything else was very distantly secondary.

Whatever He needed to do to fulfil the will of the Father He did. To fulfil the will of His Father, He had to go through the way of the cross with all its horror and unimaginable pain. We are told

“who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.” (Heb. 12:2).

Crucifixion was in biblical times reserved for the most notorious criminals who had committed some heinous or atrocious crime. It was the most shameful thing to happen to a person, and the family would become stigmatized, and ostracized from society.

The lord committed no crime, yet He was subjected to this horrible death on the cross. He endured it that He might fulfil the will of His Father.

Whatever He did was for a purpose:

He fasted in pursuance of divine direction. He excluded Himself from society for the purpose of prayer. He had short sessions and long sessions of prayer. He prayed sometimes for the whole night, so that He might prepare for the great conflict with the forces of the devil, or when He wanted to do some special work, like before He called and named His twelve apostles. Thus, there was an object in these outward acts of self-denial.

He presented to the view of all, a body under the control of the mind, and a mind that was under the control of God. The Lord had many great sufferings, and He had pain more than any man could ever bear. He did not bring any of these upon Himself. They all came in the course of His fulfilling the will of His Father.

Practicing, and enduring all these was not for the purpose of forcing or twisting the hand of His Father. He was not trying to make the Father do what the Father would otherwise not have done. Rather, it was to enable Him aligned to the will and purpose of His Father all the time.

Yes, all these were for one purpose only: To fulfil the will of the Father. Fulfilling the will of His Father was the overarching single, most important purpose that governed all that He did. Even as young as age twelve, He was already about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49).

And so, for us then, as it was for Him, self-denial consist of similar practice, and experience.

The self-denial of the disciple of Christ should include but not limited to:

Single-minded, committed followership of Christ
As His disciple we are to subject our will to the will of Christ in all circumstances (especially, when we would rather do something else)
Letting the plain teachings of Holy Scripture be the supreme authority to guide and guard every area of our life.
Full cooperation with the Holy Spirit in His work in us allowing for the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), to grow and blossom in us while the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21), all die off.
Setting aside any habit, attitude and character traits that will in anyway hinder our walk as a disciple.
Imbibe and grow in the habits, attitude, and character traits that will in anyway enhance, nurture and fertilise our walk as disciples of the Lord.
Believers have escaped the corruption that is in the world and should thereby do what is commanded:
- “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Pet 1:5-8).
Be a life-long student of the Holy Scripture.
Fasting and praying regularly with purpose or clear-cut objectives
Curtailing our appetite for things, even when they are necessary.
To shun covetousness of all shades and degrees.
Moderation should be our watchword.
Our self-disciple should extend to every phase of our lives, and be all encompassing, with no area excluded.

Sufferings and pains will come to us from a diversity of sources and causes. But as much as is possible, they should not be because of our own wrong-doing. Rather they should be because of our righteous living in the course of our doing the will of our Lord and Saviour. All our sufferings, pains, and deprivations are to be considered as,

“light affliction, which is but for a moment.” (2Cor 4:17).

This is not because we are not suffering or not in pain. Not because God delights in our suffering, but rather because compared to what is to come, when we are finally glorified, they pale into insignificance. Like other saints before us, these things,

“worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2Cor 4:17).

What is set before us, are beyond anything we know in our current existence. We are even told plainly that,

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1Cor 2:9).

Our self-denial is not meritorious

We should be clear in our mind that:

These acts of self-denial are not meritorious. They do not bring God under any obligation to do us some favour. And they do not twist God’s hand or in any way force Him to do something He would otherwise not do for us. They do not qualify us for salvation, or in any way augment or enhance or add anything to our salvation.

Rather, our salvation is solely a work of grace, a gift from God through Christ. All blessings we received, are receiving, and will ever receive are solely on the basis of the finished work of Christ on the cross. We are to practice all these, not so we can be saved, but because we are saved already.

Are you willing to be so-single minded in following Christ as He did in following His Father?

Get rid of self-indulgence

I am aware many are self-indulgent. They lack self-disciple, do not practice self-denial and restraint. But we must get out of self-indulgence and be self-disciplined. We must bring our body under subjection to us (1Cor 9:27), that is, be the one controlling our body and not the body controlling us. We must set rules and limits for ourselves to guard and guide our lives. We must follow such rules. Any rule, any plan, no matter how elaborate or detailed will be useless only actually followed or implemented.

We must not be ignorant of the devices of the devil (2Cor 2:11). We must do our best to stay out of his menacing clutches. These help us to avoid or endure temptations too. We are blessed when we endure temptation,

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (Jam 1:12).

We must be audacious in self-discipline.

Are you willing to be?

For what purpose do you practice self-denial?

Do you practice self-denial? And to what purpose? Many want to practice self-denial but do not because they do not know its purpose. Many want to practice self-denial but are put off by the erroneous and false information they have been fed with. Some are put off by the seemingly hypocritical attitude of those who claim to practice self-denial around them. Some want to practice self-denial but do not know how or what to do. Many keep postponing when to start claiming to be waiting for the right time.

A right-thinking person will not be put off from doing what is true and good because of the bad practice of others. Rather, such a one will seek the right information and separate truth from falsehood and then make an informed decision and refuse to follow along with those who are in error.

Errors or misconceptions of self-denial:

Self-denial is associated with a lot of negative and unwarranted baggage in our day. So much so that you hardly hear it mentioned amongst believers. We live in an age of self-indulgence. A time when every craving of the flesh must be satisfied immediately. But in those environments where attempts are made to engage in a semblance of self-denial, certain errors are often times not difficult to discern.

Errors or misconceptions about self-denial include though are not limited to:

The idea that self-denial is a call to ascetism and a reclusive life
The thinking that self-denial is a satisfactory payment in full or in part for their sins.
The idea that self-denial is a cure-all for all lust and covetousness.
The belief that self-denial amounts to one way of twisting the arm of God or forcing Him to do what He will otherwise not do.
Thinking that self-denial is a meritorious service that now God is under obligation to do some act demanded of Him.
The idea that self-denial is the means of attaining a higher spiritual level, power or influence than another believer.
The thinking that because a person engages in self-denial that makes such a one a better Christian with something to boast about.
The view that self-denial means that believers are not to enjoy things of life and should shun all pleasurable things in life.

All these are erroneous and are not true.

We must be tenacious, and unyielding in our determination to win this greatest of all battles. We must remember that the Lord is there with us, helping us through the Holy Spirit. And believe too as we are told,

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:13).

We must practice self-denial even in the face of opposition and danger to life and property. And as we persist, we begin to grow, and spiritual growth encourages us to be even more determined to continue to follow the Lord. He is the light of the world as He Himself said,

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

Without the cross there is no following Christ. Without the cross everything else is futile and would end in disastrous futility. Hear what the Lord said emphatically:

“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27).

You must count the cost

Just as in common major human endeavours like wanting to build a house or fighting a war, one would evaluate the cost vis-à-vis his resources before starting or not starting, a person must evaluate the potential and real cost of discipleship and then make the informed decision to follow Christ (Luke 14:28-33). You cannot run away from the hardship and have the blessings. There is no glory except through the cross. And so, without the cross, no one is worthy of the Lord,

“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Mat 10:38).

Again remember,

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23).

The cross was a picture of violent, excruciatingly painful degrading death in those days. Jesus Christ manifested total commitment to His Father, even all the way to the cross. He demands the same level of total commitment, even if such leads up to and ends in physical death from His disciples then, and from those who will follow Him today.

Stephen was totally committed and surrendered all the way to death (Acts 7:1-60). Similarly, all the apostles and uncountable number of Christians down the ages. The call to total surrender and commitment was part of the gospel message proclaimed by the Lord, and by the apostles.

Hence, the Lord repeated the call often (Mat 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 14:27). As many as make this level of full surrender, though they may loose their life, they will have eternal life (Mat 10:39).

Self-denial is not a call to ascetism and a reclusive life

This is not a call for a reclusive life in which other humans are avoided as the Pharisees practiced avoidance with members of society they considered as sinners. It is not a call for asceticism where the physical body is subjected to various types of punishment, like fasting till you look like someone with eating disorder, lying on a bed of nails, avoid shaking the hands of the opposite sex all in an attempt to “punish the body because it is a hindrance to your walk of faith.”

Rather, it a call to willingly obey the Lord’s commandments, to serve one another, and to suffer, if need be, to die for the sake of Christ. Such level of commitment is not supposed to be by compulsion or for the purpose of escaping punishment in hell. Rather, it is to be the manifest of the disciple’s love for the master. Hence, he said,

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21).

And so,

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10).

Love makes obedience enjoyable

It is love that makes obedience enjoyable even when suffering is involved,

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1John 5:3).

Christ is the one who first loved us even when we were yet sinners (Rom 5:8). And there is no greater love than that,

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13).

His commitment was complete and His love for us so deep that He did not shy away from the death on the cross. Hence, nothing,

“shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39).

Christian, how is your love for your Lord doing?

Does your commitment to the Lord reflect the depth of your love for the Lord Jesus Christ?

Do you ever ask yourself this question: “Did Christ come to die on the Cross of Calvary, so you can be free from all problems and have all your heart desires to its content in the here and now?” I hope I am not assuming too much by even hinting that you may know Christ!

Did Christ go through all the humiliation, deprivation, suffering that culminated on the painful death on the cross just so you can live in luxury in your mansion, with all your fleshly desires and lust being met?

And when someone dare call your attention to the fact that your lifestyle is in obvious contradiction to the word of God, you retort in anger claiming they are jealous or do not know the word of God as it is your positive imagination and confession that have brought you wealth. You then twist the word of God and throw it in their face as you hide under religious platitude claiming that, “Jesus has come that you may have life, and that you may have that life more abundantly!”

Has it ever occurred to you that the poorest of the poor are those that have money and other material wealth of this world but have no genuine relationship with Christ and the living God? That flesh you are pampering and feeding sumptuously will be eaten by worms one day soon, and all these wealth that has blinded your eyes from seeing or wanting to obey God will go to another.

Why don’t you have a rethink now before it is too late?

Each true believer in Christ has a race set before him or her. One major reason why many lead miserable and frustrated lives is because they follow Christ thinking that God exists to pander to their cravings, and that the Lord Jesus Christ came to make them comfortable in this world. But nothing can be further from the truth. The Lord Jesus Christ came to fulfil the will of His Father, to save that which was lost.

Whatever He did or was involved in, was so He could fulfil the will of His Father. This was why he was able to despise the shame of the cross. If you single-mindedly follow Christ, you also will be able to despise the shame of whatever you have seen in your life as a source of shame.

It is only those who run the race according to the rules or T & C that will receive the prize (1Cor 9:24).

I hope it is not sounding like if you make the commitment to follow Christ as His disciple you are on your own. If you make the commitment to become a disciple of Christ, you will not be left to run your race in your own strength and wisdom. You might look at what you understand as required of you as a disciple, duck under, and declare, “impossible for any person to accomplish on their own!”

Yes, you cannot and are not expected to be a disciple of Christ fulfilling all required obligations on your own. No. Rather, enormous amount of help for your growth, progress, and ultimate completion in final glorification is promised, and is available to you.

I encourage you to be audacious with your self-denial from hence forth! Only those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ with their salvation can begin to think of being a disciple of His.

If you are yet an unbeliever

If Christ is not yet your Saviour and your Lord, then you are a none-starter yet. But all is not lost. You can redress the situation now by putting your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord.

If you do not belong in the group of believers in Christ, that is, if Jesus Christ is not yet your Saviour and Lord, you have no part in Christ yet.

A Christ-less life is a crises-filled, hell-heading life on a brakeless but fast-moving vehicle.

You need to get out of that vehicle now before it is too late, and it crashes headlong into hell.

So, you should act fast and NOW: Repent, that is, change your mind about what you think of God, Christ, sin and the purpose in life.

Perhaps you are wondering what to do; thinking “how do I become born again?”

The Scriptures say that:

1. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

This means that in God’s opinion, we fall short of His standard.

2. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Our sin has earned a deserved wage which is death or separation from God in Hell.

3. “But God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Even in our sin, God continued to show us His love and demonstrated this love by sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us. He thus gave Jesus Christ to the whole world (John 3:16).

4. There is only One step that must be taken:

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

All that appropriate the sacrifice of Christ are acceptable to Him. For He Himself extended the invitation to all:

Why don’t you confess the Lord Jesus Christ NOW?

How you ask? Step 5

5. Arise now and confess with your mouth that the Lord Jesus had come in the flesh and died for your sins, confess that He is now your Saviour and Lord, and, believe in your heart that God had raised Him from the dead. Confess your sins to the Lord now. That is what it means (and for want of a better way to say it), to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and your Lord.

You may pray like this:

That is it!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

But please understand that becoming born-again is the beginning of a New You in a New Life.
It is the beginning of an eternal relationship with the Triune God.
It is the beginning of a life-long journey of faith in and with the Lord Jesus Christ, and in company of other believers in Christ.

6. To continue earnestly on your New journey, and to nurture and grow in your relationship with the Lord, I encourage you to start along with the following:

Look for a bible-believing church around you to be attending.
Fellowship with other believers as you have opportunity
Pray daily for others and for yourself.
Read your bible daily asking for the Holy Spirit to explain the word of God to you.
Witness to others about Jesus Christ

May our God guide and uphold you in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Christian Conduct, Exhortation, Salvation, Uncategorized

Union with Christ is the truth, not feelings, not an experience 0

January 3, 2018 Alex Oluwasakin

Yes, union with Christ is the truth according to the Scriptures. It is not feelings, not an experience. So, let your life portray the truth.

Every Christian is in union with Christ according to the Scriptures. The life of the believer should therefore reflect or demonstrate this vital union with the Lord and head of the body. Christ should, and now lives His life through those who believe in Him.

Are you a Christian, not just in name, but in both faith and practice?

Is your daily living affirming your faith and honouring the Lord Jesus Christ?

Are you journeying alone or have the sense that you are alone?

The Christian journey is not a one-person walk. It is an individual race run in company of others who are also running their own race. You should be aware of your co-racers but not be distracted by them.

You do not run this race in your own strength. It was designed to be run with the strength available with and in the Lord. Are you able to renew your strength or you are almost spent and exhausted? This will only happen if you have not learnt to wait upon the Lord.

Are you availing yourself of the Lord’s presence?

The Lord promised His own His presence.

Christ said,

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” (John 15:4).

Further, He said,

“If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23).

Believers in Christ are sanctified through the truth of God, and the truth of God is the Word of God. Christ is the word of God. The Word also acts as a washing (John 17:17; Eph. 5:26). As we are informed,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:1-3).

The basic truth is that those who belong to Christ are united with or in union with Him. They abide in Him and He abides in them. This is the truth that must be proclaimed to all.

From the foregoing, union with Christ is not just an experience, but the truth that believers must accept, and appropriate.

Take the Lord at His word: If you belong to Him, you are in union with Him, He abides in you and you abide in Him. His spirit dwells in you too, otherwise you don’t belong to Him (Rom 8:9).

This is very important in our time when people put so much weight or emphasis upon feelings and experience at the expense of truth. While our emotions may waver or swing from one extreme to another, the truth of God stands solid at all times, and in and through all ages.

The spiritual growth of the believer in Christ thus depends upon a clear understanding of truth rather than feelings or an experience.

Remember, it is,

“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

It is NOT, you shall have feelings or an experience.

It is truth that sets free not feelings or experience.

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24).

The Father was seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23).

Jesus has found you and brought you in union to the Father through Himself. He has given you His Spirit.

You are to believe this truth and act accordingly, not waiting for or depending on some feelings or an experience.

Do remember that,

“grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

And the Lord Jesus Christ Himself said,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).

Further,

“they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa 40:31).

And the Lord has promised never to leave or forsake His own (Heb. 13:5).

What are you waiting for!

You are in union with the Lord, begin experience the life of victory that is yours in Christ now. Begin to obey the Lord’s command, serving Him according to where His Holy Spirit have gifted, and placed you within the body of Christ (1Cor 12:8-11; Eph. 4:7, 11-16), and with the measure of faith you have been dealt (Rom 12:3).

You will be surprised at the power available to you through His presence.

Please, note that Christ was speaking to those who had put their trust or faith in Him as their Saviour and Lord.

Ø Those who had believed that He was the Son of God who came, not to teach us how to live a good life, but that He came to die for our sins, and the sins of the whole world.

That He came physically into the world through the virgin birth,

lived a sinless life, though He was tested in all points like any man but He did not sin,

He was falsely accused with trump up charges, denied justice, beaten and scorched, and nailed to the cross on Calvary.

He died on the cross, was buried, He rose again from the dead on the third day.

After His resurrection, He showed Himself to and taught His disciples over a period of forty days,

and in plain sight of them ascended into heaven, where He is now at the right side of God.

He is coming the second time.

These are those described as being born-again or saved.

If you do not belong in this group, that is, if Jesus Christ is not yet your Saviour and Lord, you have no part in Christ yet.

A Christ-less life is a crises-filled, hell-heading life on a brakeless but fast-moving vehicle.

You need to get out of that vehicle now before it is too late, and it crashes headlong into hell.

So, you should act fast and NOW: Repent, that is, change your mind about what you think of God, Christ, sin and the purpose in life.

Perhaps you are wondering what to do; thinking “how do I become born again?”

The Scriptures say that:

1. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

This means that in God’s opinion, we fall short of His standard.

2. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Our sin has earned a deserved wage which is death or separation from God in Hell.

3. “But God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Even in our sin, God continued to show us His love and demonstrated this love by sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us. He thus gave Jesus Christ to the whole world (John 3:16).

4. There is only One step that must be taken:

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

All that appropriate the sacrifice of Christ are acceptable to Him. For He Himself extended the invitation to all:

Why don’t you confess the Lord Jesus Christ NOW?

How you ask? Step 5

You may pray like this:

That is it!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Ø But please understand that becoming born-again is the beginning of a New You in a New Life.

Ø It is the beginning of an eternal relationship with the Triune God.

Ø It is the beginning of a life-long journey of faith in and with the Lord Jesus Christ, and in company of other believers in Christ.

6. To continue earnestly on your New journey, and to nurture and grow in your relationship with the Lord, I encourage you to start along with the following:

Ø Look for a bible-believing church around you to be attending.

Ø Fellowship with other believers as you have opportunity

Ø Pray daily for others and for yourself.

Ø Read your bible daily asking for the Holy Spirit to explain the word of God to you.

Ø Witness to others about Jesus Christ

May our God guide and uphold you in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Christian Conduct, Salvation, Uncategorized

Come Under A New Management 0

August 16, 2016 Alex Oluwasakin

Come Under A New Management

Oh yes, your life should Come Under A New Management Now!

There is one thing everyone seems to agree upon – that death ends the existence of man on this planet earth.

Yes, ALL eventually die – people have died, people are dying and people will continue to die. ALL die at some point. When the time of death comes, no one can postpone it to another time or place. Further, the time, the place and the how you cannot determine.

There are many questions too:

Why do people even have to die?
Is this the way the world is going to continue in endless cycle of birth and death for ever?
Is there a way out of dying?

These questions have been answered, so don’t keep saying they are questions without answers.

But could the fact that everyone agrees that death ends life on earth be an indication that all were created by God?

God created you and all of mankind

Yes, there is a God who created us all. He created man in His image:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27).

Truth remains truth always

Please at this early stage, let me remind you of an unchangeable fact:

Truth is still truth even if you do not believe it. Your unbelief cannot and will not alter the nature of truth.
You can be sincerely wrong. That is, you can be sincere or honest and still be wrong.

So, please, do not dismiss what you are reading here with a wave of the hand as myth, or untrue just because you don’t believe right now.

Yes, again, your belief or your unbelief does not affect truth because truth will still be truth even if you don’t believe it. So God exists even if you happen not to believe in Him now.

I say further that your existence is a deliberate act. Perhaps you are thinking: “How can he know my existence is a deliberate act when he doesn’t even know me?”

Simple: you reading this is a human been, an intelligent human being, able to read, think and make decisions. You are not a robot or a mindless machine. No.

And God created you with a mind and a conscience and you can feel – you have emotions.

He created you for a purpose. He also has made available the resources you need to accomplish that purpose. That is for another time.

But I tell you now, you didn’t just happen to be. You didn’t fall from the sky like rain or snow. A storm didn’t just blow you out of the dust on the ground. You didn’t emerge from an explosion or so-called big bang. You didn’t evolve from some slimy, shapeless thing in the water somewhere.

Yes, God created you, me and the rest of human beings. He knew you will come here to read this and in His hidden counsel, He ensured I wrote this you are reading now.

What follows is the truth of the word of God. By the decree of God, every human being must be born through a woman to come into this world. No human falls from the sky. And by His decree, everyone, everything dies.

But what then after death?

Do I hear a chorus of answers? You might have heard many divergent answers and from a diversity of sources, but here is the truth according to the Holy Scriptures.

Please, bear with me and read this to the end.

Death had a beginning

Through the action of man death came into the life of man and by the decree of God:

“it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27).

But it started earlier than that – here:

“in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:19).

After man disobeyed clearly laid down command of God. And do remember, the consequence of disobedience was spelt out at the time the prohibition was given and before the disobedience occurred:

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17).

So, you see, I am not cursing you by saying one day, you like every human being would die.

But there is life after death. Put another way, your death is not the end of you but the beginning of existence in the next life.

Even then, death itself has an end – death will come to an end one day. Death will not continue endlessly for ever. I repeat, there is coming a time when there will be no more death.

But still, there is life after death.

And here I have a question. There is no easier way to say it so I ask the question upfront:

“If you die before you finish reading this note, what account are you going to give to God?”

CEO, how is the health of your company

How is the company doing? Which company? The company called “YOU” Up to this moment, you have been the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of your life. You have ruled and run YOU the way you wanted. After all, “it is my life” you say.

So, Mr/Ms CEO Ma/Sir, how is the company called “YOU” doing? The life of YOU?

Are you have a-swell-of-a-time?
Or you are having a-deflating-of-a-time?
Or you are just confused and are between and betwixt?

I repeat again, believe it or not, God created you. for a purpose You didn’t just happen to be. And like all other human beings, one day you will have to give account to God of how you lived your life on planet earth.

God has spoken

God in His word says that: YOU are a sinner.

Oh yes, God knows you more than yourself for He created you. He is therefore in the best position to assess you. God looked into the books and He says to all of mankind:

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

And

“There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).

In other words, in God’s opinion, we fall short of His standard. You as the CEO of the company called “YOU” You have managed the company very badly. If things continue the way there are now, this company will be completely ruined.

Hence, to prevent a ruin that could be beyond redemption, company YOU needs immediate and urgent attention if it is not to continue in its current “self-destructive” mode. It needs to be rescued and a new management plan and resources put in place.

Will you avail yourself of the rescue plan?

God’s decree is that the sinner shall die

According to the creator of mankind, all souls belong to Him and the soul that sins (fall short of His standard) shall die:

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4, 20).

“For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

That is to say our sin has earned a deserved wage which is death or separation from God in Hell.

Observe that you sin because you are a sinner

Please recognise that an orange tree is not an orange tree because it bears oranges. Rather, it bears oranges because it is an orange tree.

Similarly, you are not a sinner because you sin, rather, you sin because you are a sinner.

There will be a day of reckoning – a day for all to give account.

One day all will stand before God to give account of their lives while one earth. The word of God describes that day thus:

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15).

These are the words of the Lord telling us of the fate of every unbeliever.

But God doesn’t want you or any sinner to die

But it is not God’s wish that anybody should die. So he made provision for us (those who will be willing) to be saved because He still loves us:

“But God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Also

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10).

Friend, believe it, yes, it is true: God has no pleasure in the death of the sinner (Ezekiel 18:32). Hear God calling ALL including you now:

“Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die?” (Ezekiel 33:11).

In other words, even in our sin, God continued to show us His love and demonstrated this love by sending His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us. He thus gave Jesus Christ to the whole world (John 3:16).

You cannot save yourself

Except the judge does, no prisoner can set himself free. Similarly, the sinner cannot set himself free. Yes, you cannot set yourself free. You may consider yourself good, perhaps:

You are religious,
You live a morally upright life,
You do good to others and
You are loved by everyone,
You have joined a church and you are contributing much money there,
You are engaged in a lot of charity work,
You are a very generous philanthropist.

All these may be good and do have their place. But they will not save you. No amount of good work and being on your best behaviour can save you. Your salvation is not based on the merit of what works and contributions you have made to society.

Simply put – you cannot be your own saviour. This is a fact you need to admit to yourself for salvation is:

“not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:9).

And it is:

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done” (Titus 3:5).

Your salvation is based on what someone else had done.

God has made provision for your salvation

Between you the sinner and a Holy God is the sin barrier. To remove that barrier, God provided His Son, Jesus Christ:

“The Lord Laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

“He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Jesus Christ can therefore offer you salvation as a gift. All you need is believe and appropriate His provision.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ bore your sins in His own body on the tree? (1 Peter 2:24). You need to believe.

Come under a New Management

Jesus says to you, the sinner: “Come unto Me!”

I appeal to you as a fellow human being, and in the name of the Lord, hear and accept His invitation now:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Further, He says:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Believe God

You are a sinner, the penalty for sin is death, you cannot save yourself, God has made provision for your salvation, He made His Son, Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for your sin, you need to accept what the Lord Jesus Christ has done on your behalf.

Yes, you now have to believe God’s word and take Him at His word (take the step of faith) by accepting and appropriating the way of salvation He has provided for us in Jesus Christ.

You are a sinner who has badly run his life like a very bad CEO who has run a company into debt and administration, and that company is now in such a poor shape that no one else would buy it.

You cannot save yourself. This sinking company needs to be saved. It needs a new CEO. That New CEO is the Lord Jesus Christ.

You reading this, should take that step of faith now. It is not complicated. Rather, the word is near you, the word of faith is in your mouth and in your heart (Rom 10:8):

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

Furthermore, we are told:

“whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

That is to say, ALL that appropriate the sacrifice of Christ is acceptable to Him.

You must Act NOW!

You have a decision to make now!

Believe God and appropriate the finished work of Christ on your behalf and receive eternal life

Reject God and His provision for your salvation and face His wrath.

This is what we all have been warned about – that our decisions and choices have consequences.

For as we are told:

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36).

What will your decision be?

Please, choose Life.

Act now! Come and Bring your life under a New Management of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do not let yourself like a bad CEO run the company called “YOU” to damnation in hell.

Remember that God wants “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

And remember that those who believe the word of God and accept His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ will not come under judgement because their names are entered in the Book of Life:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

But the unrepentant sinner’s name will not be in the Book of Life, and he will be judged:

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15).

Therefore, it is a dangerous thing not to believe what God has done for humanity through Jesus Christ. There is no other means, way or provision available to man. ALL goes to and through Jesus Christ. For:

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

And so it follows that:

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18).

You have the information now and please know that:

“these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31).

I repeat: There is a decision to make. You alone can make that decision now.

The decision is to appropriate the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross as yours, so He becomes your saviour and Lord.
But please do not delay.
Let today be the day of your salvation.
ACT NOW!!!
Let The Lord Jesus Christ be Saviour and Lord of your life – the New CEO of your life calling the shots and you obeying as He brings the company called “YOU” back to life.

Please, call upon God, and let the Lord Jesus Christ become the New CEO of your life calling the shots and you obeying as He brings the company called “YOU” back to life.

My prayer for you is that you will believe God and His word, you will appropriate the sacrifice Christ made on your behalf and let The Lord Jesus Christ Saviour and Lord of your life in Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Bible Study, Salvation, Uncategorized

A Christian Professor Or A True Christian? 0

January 5, 2013 Alex Oluwasakin

Speaking of a Christian professor in contrast to a true Christian might seem to be a contradiction. This is because biblically speaking there is only one type of Christian: a person who has received the genuine gift of repentance unto salvation by faith through grace in the Lord Jesus Christ and is diligently living in obedience to Him as his Saviour, Lord and King. All others are non-Christians. But for the sake of popular speech and common understanding such a phrase is necessary.

I have often heard some people say that you cannot actually know a true Christian. But this is contrary to the Holy Scriptures for we are instructed as to the characteristics of a genuine Christian. I encourage the doubters to read the whole of the book of 1John. Meanwhile here is just a sampling of some of the distinguishing traits:

Concerning The Holy Bible, an unregenerated person (a Christian professor) may read the Holy Scriptures but will still not have faith. Though such ones may even take to studying the Holy Bible they will not be better than other unbelievers who have nothing to do with Christianity as they will have no life of God in them. A professor of Christianity may have a reading plan and even read several chapters of the word of God every day and yet never appropriate a verse of Scripture.

In listening and hearing, a carnal professor will usually boast of having attended numerous conferences: I was in this conference and that conference; I have been under the ministration of or heard numerous popular preachers. He comes out of each meeting extoling how powerful the message was but he never seems to be affected by the power. He may have and be listening to many sermons every Sunday and indeed all weekdays as well yet 10 or more years down the road he is still as dead spiritually as the first day in church. Such reckon their spiritual status by the number of years since they have been coming to church or since they came in contact with Christianity. Ever hearing, never understanding and never growing, rather they are hardened.

In prayer the sentences flow from his lips as readily as that of a person with verbal diarrhoea; he has a very impressive repertoire of pleasant-sounding phrases and words; Scripture verses seem to run through his mind as freely as a dam breaking its bounds, they just gush out in torrents. They are adept at saying nice prayers which are just mere meaningless words. They think prayer is for show: how much you can shout, stamp your feet on the ground and jump around sweating like a turkey who knows he is the next at the dinner table. Observing them at prayer you may be tempted to think they are the offspring of Baal worshipers in action as in the days of Elijah!

In conversation the Christian professor can talk glibly and frequently orthodoxly of doctrines, yes and of worldly things too. He switches smoothly between the two according to his mood, according to his audience and according to the perceived advantage and lucre he is after at the moment. To him nothing seems too sacred to peddle. In his attempt to display knowledge, he only often exposes his ignorance and unbelief.

I have heard some people say it does not matter how you dress or speak as long as you have Christ in your heart. Such are either ignorant or deceitful because what is inside is reflected by what is happening outside. One even said “am a Christian but not religious and I worship nobody” What a confused mind! Can you be a Christian and not worship the Lord Jesus Christ?

Please remember this: as it is internally so it is externally. What is resident within the heart is reflected on the outside. The heart in which the Lord Jesus Christ reigns will be productive of fruits that are in keeping with the character of Christ. Hence, the difference is just as real between the genuine Christian and the nominal Christian in their daily lives.

And remember this too:

Faith applies the whole of the Word of God in all its glorious detail and authority:

Hence, Faith applies the fearful threatening of the Word of God and trembles before them.
Faith applies the warnings of the Word of God and endeavours to obey them.
Faith applies the precepts of the Word of God and looks unto God for the grace to be able to walk in them.

And this faith is what distinguishes the genuine Christian from the professor, the one who is one in name only. But this faith is also the genuine faith too. This genuine faith cannot be worked up or be exercised at will nor can it be legislated by law or be forced on a person by any one. This is the faith that is God-given: it is a gift. This is the Holy Spirit-given and Holy Spirit-moulded faith in the heart.

This is not the mere head-knowledge and intellectual assent to the truth that the carnal professor possesses.

Rather the divine faith is a living, spiritual and vital trait. It is:

the faith which “purifies the heart” (Acts 15:9);
the faith “which worketh by love” (Gal 5:6);
the faith that “overcometh the world” (1 John 5:4).
This faith is the faith that is divinely rooted and sustained in the midst of trials within and opposition without.
This is the faith that makes its possessor to exclaim “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15), “For I know that my Redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25).
It is not a common faith for it is found only among the genuine of God.
Where it is, it cannot but be manifested!

Do you have this genuine faith? If not begin to pray for it for you may actually have labelled yourself “a Christian” while in reality you do not belong in the household of God.

Please diligently observe that this divine faith is not always exercised nor is it equally strong at all times. However, the genuine Christian who possesses it must be taught through experience which is often painful, that, as he did not originate it neither can he command it at will and therefore he must turn to its author and originator for the needed sustenance. He must often turn to God and say “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

And therefore in contrast with the carnal professor, we see with the genuine Christian with this divine faith that:

when reading the Word he is enabled to lay hold of its precious promises;
when bowing before the Throne of Grace, he is enabled to cast his burden upon the Lord;
when he rises to go about his temporal duties, he is enabled to lean upon the everlasting arms;
and when he is made to pass “through the valley of the shadow of death”, he will triumphantly cry “I will fear no evil for Thou art with me.” (Ps 23:4).

O Lord our God grant us the divine faith that has been the privilege of all your saints through the ages that our lives may truly begin to “shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1Pet 2:9).

Uncategorized

What Is Your Beginning? 0

January 5, 2013 Alex Oluwasakin

Oh yes, what Is Your Beginning?

By the question “What Is Your Beginning?” I mean “How did you come to be or to be called and or addressed as a Christian?” Just how did it happen?

About foundation: It is the part of the building that carries the rest of the superstructure.

It is in most parts not seen. It is the only part of the building that if faulty will lead to the building being demolished. In other words a faulty roof, ceiling, window, door or other parts can be replaced without having to demolish the whole building, but not so the foundation. The whole building must be destroyed if the foundation is faulty.

That brings us to the beginning. I mean your own beginning as a Christian if you consider yourself to be a Christian. Yes, you looking at me and reading this now. Stop looking over your shoulder, stop pointing at someone else. How come you are a Christian?

Some questions may help you conduct a proper self-examination:

Where and how did you hear or get to know about Christianity?
When did you become a Christian?
How did you become a Christian?
What is/are your source/sources of information about the Christian faith?
Since becoming a Christian how much has your knowledge of God, of Jesus Christ, of the Holy Spirit, of the Holy Scriptures and of man especially you changed?
What is your world-view?
How did you obtain or derive or deduce or concoct or arrive at this your world-view?

The answers to all these questions are important because they may show whether you are a genuine biblical Christian or you are just an acquaintance of the Christian faith commonly referred to as Christian professor.

Please don’t be offended at this early stage. It is too early for that, especially since we are talking of a life-death matter.

Remember the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Scribes, the priests and other religious leaders in Israel? Most people and especially themselves thought and believed they were righteous and serving the true God truly. They read the Holy Scriptures every Sabbath.

But that was until the Lord Jesus Christ arrived at the scene. The Lord showed them from the same Holy Scriptures in which they claimed expertise that they did not know and were not actually serving the true God the way that God had prescribed. Not only that, the Lord told them they were in darkness and heading into hell unless they repented. Some amongst them repented and were saved. But many were mad at Him and eventually crucified Him.

So perhaps before now you have always seen yourself as a highly spiritual Christian, even with a long title and lofty position in a church and you believe you are heading straight to heaven. Therefore you feel insulted that anyone should dare question your authenticity. Who is this questioning my Christianity? Me, a bona fide anointed child of God! Do realise that there are many today claiming to be Christians who in reality have never known or been known by the living God of Israel.

Therefore I implore you to use all means available to you to scrutinise the foundation of what you believe so you will be standing on not just a solid ground but on THE SOLID GROUND: THE ROCK OF AGES that is the Saviour, Lord and King JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth.

Uncategorized

Welcome 0

December 28, 2012 Alex Oluwasakin

Welcome to Habitation of Mercy Ministries website

We are filled with joy that you visited today. We pray that as a result of your visit to Habitation of Mercy Ministries’ website, that you’ll accept the mercy of God and draw closer to Him.

It is likely you came here while you were just browsing the net, or searching for a particular item or searching for meaning in life.

Or perhaps you have being asking yourself some of these questions:

What is my purpose in life?

Why I’m I here?

Where I’m I heading to?

Is there heaven and hell or are they the imagination of religious fanatics?

Is there absolute truth in this world?

Or are all truths relative, depending on who is talking?

These and other perplexing questions of life we believe, you shall find answers to here by the mercy of God.

Take your time to look around, come back often and feel free to contact us [clickable].

However, we are aware that there are as many opinions and positions on the issue of life, death and God as there are human opinion leaders.

But in the final analysis everything boils down to what a person thinks and makes of himself, life and God.

O yes, there is God, ONLY ONE LIVING GOD! Hence, there is only one opinion from God. I know all your life you have been hearing diverse opinions of man about God.

But do you want to hear God’s opinion of man? Will you hear, believe and obey? Let us Go there now

Further, Do you know you can be sincerely wrong? That is, you genuinely, truly and sincerely believe something to be true, yet, you’re wrong? Check this out!

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Hello world! 0

December 13, 2012 Alex Oluwasakin

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

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